Using augmented reality for accessing legacy transaction terminals

ABSTRACT

A method for accessing legacy devices via Augmented Reality (AR) devices. The method includes acquiring, via an AR device, an image of a keyboard of a legacy device. The method includes accessing customer commands for initiating of a transaction using the legacy device. The method includes determining a command sequence based, at least in part, on the customer commands, the command sequence mapping to a keystroke sequence to be entered using the keyboard. The method includes generating an overlay indicating a keystroke sequence corresponding to the command sequence. The method also includes displaying, via the AR device, the overlay by visually projecting the overlay over the keyboard of the legacy device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claim priority to and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/799,358 filed Oct. 31, 2017, all of whichis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter generally relate to thefield of augmented reality and, more particularly, to using augmentedreality to access legacy transaction terminals.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a computer-generated environment that augmentsuser's view of a real-world environment using computer-generatedelements, such as sound, video, and/or other sensory outputs. AR can beimplemented using computer-generated images that overlay a user-accessedview of a real-world. AR images can be displayed via AR glasses that areworn by the user, and thus can augment the real-world view seen by theuser. For example, AR can be used to display supplemental images aboutcertain elements in a field of vision of the AR glasses. Thesupplemental images are displayed in a way that aligns with real-worldelements seen by the user.

A computer system that implements AR can access images of the real-worldin the field of vision of the AR glasses. The computer system can thenperform image analysis to detect certain elements in the accessed image.Based on element detection, the computer system can determine AR imagesto superimpose over the accessed image. The AR images can be movedand/or resized as the user moves the AR glasses and/or when the detectedelements move, which can be caused by the user walking, user's headmovement, movement of the detected elements, and/or via other movements.The user may also access a legacy transaction terminal, such as a legacypoint-of-sale terminal. Such legacy transaction terminals typically aredifficult to use for a novice user. The user may not obtain any benefitof using AR devices when accessing such a legacy transaction terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present embodiments may be better understood, and numerous objects,features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art byreferencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating embodiments of a system thatuses an AR device to access legacy transaction terminals.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating embodiments of operations forusing an AR device to access legacy transaction terminals.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of customer commands, and examplecorresponding command sequence and keystroke sequence, as used by the ARapplication.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating embodiments of a display shownby an AR device to access legacy transaction terminals.

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating operations for using AR toaccess legacy transaction terminals, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of embodiments of devices discussed withreference to FIGS. 1-5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

The description that follows includes exemplary systems, methods,techniques, instruction sequences and computer program products thatembody techniques of the present inventive subject matter. However, itis understood that the described embodiments may be practiced withoutthese specific details. For instance, although many examples refer toAR, computer-generated images that simulate a user's physical presencein an imaginary environment can be used instead, such as Virtual Reality(VR). In some embodiments, AR and VR can be used interchangeably. Insome embodiments, AR and VR can be used at the same time. In someembodiments, mixed reality (MR) can be used instead, where virtual andreal worlds are combined. In MR, immersive environments are created thatallow a user to interact with real world environments (such as viauser-controlled robots) via real and virtual elements.

The AR device can determine objects and/or images at which the user islooking. The AR device can use eye-tracking, or another technique, todetermine a field-of-view that is viewed by the user of the AR device(also referred to as a “user view”) of a real-world. For example, the ARdevice can have a camera (and/or other optical sensors) that can takevideos and/or multiple photos, referred to collectively as imageacquisition. The AR device can analyze the acquired images, such as byapplying image analysis, to determine content of these images. Forexample, the AR device (or another device in communication with the ARdevice) can perform image analysis to detect certain elements in theviewed image(s). The AR device can also determine images and/or elementsin these images that are most often viewed by the user. The AR devicecan also include one or more microphones for acquiring audio, or receiveaudio data from another device.

The AR device can be used to facilitate easy and efficient operatoraccess with legacy devices. The AR device can acquire an image of akeyboard of a legacy device. For example, the AR device can acquire theimage, from the user view, of the legacy device that is accessed by theuser. The AR device can access customer commands for initiating of atransaction using the legacy device. For example, the AR device canaccess and analyze audio data to determine the customer commands. The ARdevice can determine a command sequence based, at least in part, on thecustomer commands. The command sequence can map to a keystroke sequence,which can be entered using the keyboard. The AR device can generate anoverlay indicating a keystroke sequence that maps to the commandsequence. The AR device can display, via an AR display, the overlay byvisually projecting, in the user view, the overlay over the keyboard ofthe legacy device.

Therefore, the methods described herein allow the operator to use his orher AR device to access and use a legacy device, such as to quicklyinitiate processing of a transaction. The AR device can, based on audiodata (such as customer data) acquired from a customer, determine arequested transaction. The AR device can then display an overlay overthe keyboard of the legacy device for guiding the user how to access thekeyboard of the legacy device. The following description, and associatedFigures, illustrates various embodiments directed to the ideas listedabove.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating embodiments of a system thatuses an AR device for securely processing transactions that areinitiated at another device. In an overview of a system diagram 100, alegacy device 102 includes a legacy display 106 and a legacy keyboard.An operator can use the legacy device 102 to initiate a transaction. Thetransaction can be for a purchase of a product and/or a service. Thetransaction can be composed of more elements, which need to be performedsequentially or in parallel.

The legacy device 102 can be a point-of-sale (PoS), a simple cashregister, or another device that can be accessed by an operator forinitiating and processing of a transaction. The legacy device 102 caninclude a legacy keyboard 104 having a plurality of physical keys,including physical keys 110 and 112. The operator can access the legacydevice 102 via the legacy keyboard 104 to enter a keystroke sequenceusing the legacy keyboard 104 (e.g., by selecting the physical keys 110and 112). The keystroke sequence can be entered by the operator, via thelegacy keyboard 104 to perform operations corresponding to elements ofthe transaction. The legacy device 102 can display results of enteringof the transaction elements via the legacy display 106. However, theoperator can have difficulty with accurately selecting keys of thelegacy keyboard 104 required to initiate each transaction.

The AR device 114 can provide easy access to the legacy device 102 forinitiating of the transaction. The AR device 114 can process customercommands, and display, via an AR display 122, an overlay 126 thatvisually projects over the legacy keyboard 104. The overlay 126 canindicate what keys, and key selection order, of the legacy keyboard 104to select for initiating of the transaction. Thus, the operator can, byaccessing the keys of the legacy keyboard 104 via key indicatorsdisplayed by the overlay 126, easily operate the legacy device 102. Insome implementations, the legacy keyboard 104 can be implemented usingother input/output devices, such as a virtual keyboard that is displayedvia the legacy display 106. In this embodiment, the AR device 114 woulddisplay the overlay 126 over the virtual keyboard.

The AR device 114 can be a device operable to generate an AR environmentby augmenting a user's view of a real-world environment usingcomputer-generated elements, such as by using sound, video, and/or othersensory outputs. The AR device 114 can be implemented using AR glassesor another device that generates images (or accesses generated images)and overlays a user-accessed view of a real-world. AR images can bedisplayed on an AR display 122 of the AR device 114. For example, the ARimages can be displayed via AR glasses that are worn by the user (e.g.,the operator of the legacy device 102), and thus can augment areal-world view seen by the user. The AR display 122 can overlay ARelements on the user view via the overlay 126. The AR elements can bevisual elements generated by the AR device 114, or that are receivedfrom another device or server.

The AR device 114 can host an AR application 120 that acquires and/orprocesses various data, and based on the data processing, determines theAR elements to display on the AR display 122. The AR application 120 canbe any type of an application that can access and analyze audio andvideo data that is acquired, for example, via the AR device 114. The ARapplication 120 can be a stand-alone application, or provide clientfunctionality as accessed via a web browser. The AR device 114 canacquire an image of the legacy device 102, such as of the legacykeyboard 104. The AR application 120 can perform image analysis on theacquired images to determine whether the images include representationsof certain elements. For example, the AR application 120 can determine atype of the legacy device 102 based on the image analysis of images ofthe legacy keyboard 104 and/or images of the entire legacy device 102.

The AR application 120 can communicate with a server 130 to determinethe type of the legacy device 102. The communication can include certaincharacteristics of the legacy device 102, as determined by the ARapplication from the image analysis. The communication can include oneor more of the acquired images (entire images or portions) of the legacydevice 102. The server 130 can include a database of legacy devices, anddetermine, based on communication from the AR application 120, thelegacy device type. The server 130 can then communicate the legacydevice type to the AR application 120.

The AR application 120 can acquire audio data, which can be provided bya customer of the operator of the legacy device 102. The customer can belocated in a close physical proximity of the operator (and thus of theAR device 114 worn by the operator). The AR application 120 can accessan audio file with audio provided by the customer. The AR application120 can analyze the audio data to determine whether the audio dataincludes customer commands for initiating of a transaction using thelegacy device 102. The AR application 120 can analyze the customercommands to determine a command sequence that corresponds to elements ofthe transaction. The AR application 120 can analyze the command sequenceto determine a keystroke sequence to be selected, by the operator, usingthe legacy keyboard 104 to initiate the transaction.

The AR application 120 can generate an overlay 126 indicating thekeystroke sequence. The AR application 120 can display, via the ARdisplay 122, the overlay 126 by visually projecting the overlay 126 overthe legacy keyboard 104. In some embodiments, the overlay 126 cansubstantially line up, in the user view, with the legacy keyboard 104,such that key indicators 118 and 119 visually line up with thecorresponding physical keys 110 and 112, respectively. In someembodiments, the AR application 120 can also determine a keystrokesequence order that indicates an order in which the physical keys of thelegacy keyboard should be selected by the operator. The overlay 126 canvisually indicate the order in which the physical keys should beaccessed, such as by first projecting the key indicator 118 over thephysical key 110, without projecting the key indicator 119 over thephysical key 112. Once the AR application 120 detects a user selectionof the key 110, the AR application 120 can cease displaying the keyindicator 118 over the physical key 110, and instead display the keyindicator 119 over the physical key 112.

In some embodiments, AR application 120 can receive a user selection 108by tracking user gestures. For example, the AR device 114 can usecameras to track location and movement of user's arm, hand, and/orfingers to determine whether the operator selects a physical key that isindicated by one of the key indicators 118 or 119. If the overlay 126 isproperly aligned with the legacy keyboard 104, the user selection 108 ofthe key indicator 118 also selects the physical key 110 (that is mappedto the key indicator 118). The AR device 114 can determine the userselection 108 based on user's gestures as determined by the cameras. Insome embodiments, the AR device 114 can use motion detection sensorssuch as infrared sensors and/or photodetectors to detect hand motionsand/or gestures. The AR device 114 can track the movement of user's handvia tracking gloves worn by the user, where the tracking gloves caninclude sensors that detect user's hand and/or finger movements. In someembodiments, the AR device 114 can determine the user selection 108based on position and/or signals received from a pointing device held bythe operator.

In some embodiments, the AR application 120 can generate a shortcut key(as discussed below with reference to FIG. 4). For example, the ARapplication 120 can use the key indicator 119 as the shortcut keyinstead of the key indicator 119 being mapped to the physical key 112.The AR application 120 can determine to place a location of the keyindicator 119 on the overlay 126 so it maps to another physical key ofthe legacy keyboard 104. The AR application 120 can determine to placethe location of the key indicator 119 on the AR display 122 such that itdoes not map to any physical keys of the legacy keyboard, and is onlyaccessible via the AR display 122, i.e., as a virtual key. Upondetection of selection of the virtual key by the user selection 108, theAR device 114 can provide haptic feedback to the user to indicate thatthe user selection 108 has been received.

The AR device 114 can communicate at least a portion of the commandsequence to the legacy device 102 via a legacy communication link 124.The legacy communication link 124 can be implemented using a serialRS-232 interface, a general purpose interface (GPIB or HPIB), a parallelport interface, or any one of legacy serial or parallel interfaces forenabling communication (e.g., data transfer) between devices such as anIEEE 1394, parallel SCSI, mini-DIN, among others. The legacycommunication link 124 can be implemented using legacy wirelesscommunication technology such as RF data links or UHF or VHF data links.In some implementations, the legacy communication link 124 can beimplemented using a newer communication interface such as UniversalSerial Bus (USB).

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating embodiments of operations forusing an AR device to access legacy transaction terminals. The method ofFIG. 2 is described with reference to the systems and componentsdescribed in FIG. 1 (for illustration purposes and not as a limitation).The example operations can be carried out by the AR application 120.

Beginning with 202, the AR application acquires an image of a keyboardof a legacy device. With reference to FIG. 1, the AR application 120 canacquire an image of the legacy keyboard 104 that is being used by theoperator. The AR application 120 can determine, based on image analysisof the image, a device type of the legacy device 102. The AR application120 can access, based on the device type, a keyboard layout of thekeyboard from a database of keyboard layouts. In some embodiments, theAR application 120 can locally (i.e., local to the AR device 114)determine the device type. The AR application 120 may also locallydetermine the keyboard layout based on the device type, or communicatethe device type to the server 130 for determination of the keyboardlayout. In some embodiments, the AR application 120 can communicate theimage or the results of the image analysis to the server 130 fordetermination of the device type. The server 130 would then communicatethe device type and the keyboard layout to the AR device 114.

At 204, the AR application accesses customer commands for initiating atransaction using the legacy device. With reference to FIG. 1, the ARapplication 120 can acquire and access (or access previously acquired)audio data, which can be received from a customer that is interfacingwith the operator of the legacy device 102. The AR application 120 canperform voice analysis on the audio data to determine customer commands.The AR application 120 can perform the voice analysis locally, or cancommunicate with the server 130 for sending the audio data and receivingresults (i.e., customer commands) of the voice analysis. It is notedthat the customer commands can be generated based other means ofcommunication beside voice. For example, the AR application 120 canacquire, via the camera(s), a video of sign language provided by thecustomer. The AR application 120 can determine the customer commandsbased on analysis of the sign language video. In some embodiments, theAR application 120 can use the camera(s) to acquire visual cues frombody movements, gestures, and other non-verbal communication from thecustomer. The AR application 120 can also use the customer visual cueswhen determining the customer commands.

At 206, the AR application determines whether the AR device is in atraining mode. With reference to FIG. 1, the AR application 120 candetermine that the AR device 114 is being used to train based on thelegacy device 102. The training mode can also be for training elements(e.g., transaction rules and/or databases) of the server 130. If the ARapplication determines that the AR device is in the training mode, flowcontinues at 208. Otherwise, flow continues at 210.

At 208, the AR application performs training for the legacy device. TheAR application 120 can thus be placed in a training mode, where the ARapplication 120 acquires and analyzes images, or transmits the images tothe server 130, of the operator selecting various keystrokes along withassociated customer commands (such as received at 204). In someembodiments, the AR application 120 can acquire, via the AR device 114,a set of images corresponding to a training set of keystrokes for thetransaction using the legacy device 102. In some embodiments, the ARapplication 120 can locally correlate the training set of keystrokes tothe set of customer commands to generate a set of command sequences.Using the set of command sequences and the training set of transactions,the AR application 120 can generate a set of transaction rules for thelegacy device (and optionally for a type of a merchant for which thetransaction is initiated). In some embodiments, the AR application 120can transmit the image and audio data to the server 130, so the server130 can perform the correlation, generate the set of command sequences,and/or generate the transaction rules for the legacy device 102.

At 208, in some embodiments, 208 the AR application 120 can determinepossible shortcut sequences. For example, the AR application 120 candetermine a portion of the command sequence or the subset of thekeystroke sequence for the shortcut key. Based on the training set oftransactions, the AR application 120 can determine several shortcut keysfor use at 214. The AR application 120 can display, via the overlay 126,several portions of the command sequence or subsets of the keystrokesequence corresponding to training set of transactions. The ARapplication 120 can receive user input indicating whether certainportions of the command sequence (or corresponding subsets of thekeystroke sequence) are accurate.

At 210, the AR application determines a command sequence based on thecustomer commands. The command sequence maps to a keystroke sequence forthe legacy keyboard 104. In some embodiments, the AR application 120 canaccess a command list for the legacy device 102 based on the devicetype. The AR application 120 generates, based on the device type, thekeystroke sequence that corresponds to the command sequence. In someembodiments, the AR application 120 and/or the server 130 usetransaction rules (e.g., associated with the legacy device) whendetermining the command sequence.

In some embodiments, the AR application 120 can determine whether stepsof the customer commands are in order acceptable by the legacy device102. The AR application 120 can, in response to determination that thesteps are not in order acceptable by the legacy device 102, re-organizeorder of the steps of the customer commands. The AR application 120 candetermine the command sequence that corresponds to the customer commandsin the re-organized order.

In some embodiments, the AR application 120 can acquire, via the ARdevice 114, an image of the customer that provides the customer commandsfor the transaction. The AR application 120 can access (locally and/orvia the server 130) customer preferences for the customer, wherein thecustomer preferences modify at least one of the customer commands. TheAR application 120 can determine the command sequence further based onthe customer preferences.

At 212, the AR application determines whether to generate a shortcutkey. The AR application 120 can determine to generate the shortcut keybased, for example, on complexity of the transaction. If the transactionis determined to be complex (e.g., above a certain complexity levelthreshold), then the AR application 120 can determine to generate theshortcut key. The complexity level threshold can be adjusted based ondetermination of a competency level of the operator, e.g., the lower theoperator competency, the lower the complexity level threshold. Thedetermination of whether to generate the shortcut key can be based onwhether the AR device 114 can communicate over a communication link(such as the legacy communication link 124) with the legacy device 102.

At 212, the AR application 120 can also determine what type of theshortcut key to generate. The AR application 120 can generate theshortcut key as a virtual key, i.e., that a key indicator visible viathe AR display 122 but which does not map to a physical key on thelegacy keyboard 104. The AR application 120 can also map the shortcutkey to a key on the legacy keyboard 104, e.g., via a key indicator onthe overlay 126. The shortcut key type determination can be made basedon whether the legacy keyboard 104 and the legacy device 102 can supportuse of a physical key without directly affecting the transaction (i.e.,the selection of the particular physical key would not affect thetransaction until communication is received by the legacy device 102 viathe legacy communication link 124). If the AR application determinesthat to generate the shortcut key, flow continues at 214. Otherwise,flow continues at 216.

At 214, the AR application generates the shortcut key. The shortcut keycan map to at least a portion of the command sequence (that maps to asubset of the keystroke sequence). Upon detection of the user selectionof the shortcut key (i.e., from the AR display 122), the AR application120 can communicate the at least a portion of the command sequence (orthe subset of the keystroke sequence) associated with the shortcut keyto the legacy device 102, such as via the legacy communication link 124.The AR application 120 can use, for the shortcut key, the portion of thecommand sequence or the subset of the keystroke sequence as determinedat 208.

At 216, the AR application 120 generates the overlay indicating thekeystroke sequence mapping to the command sequence. If the shortcut keyis generated at 214, the overlay 126 can also include the key indicatorfor the shortcut key. The AR application 120 can determine the operatorof the AR device 114. The AR application 120 can access operatorpreferences for the operator, where the operator preferences canindicate how to modify at least one element of the overlay. The operatorpreferences can indicate to modify how a certain key indicator isdisplayed and/or how long each key indicator is displayed after theoperator selects the certain key indicator. For example, the operatorpreferences can indicate that the first key indicator is colored green,and the second key indicator is colored red.

At 218, the AR application 120 displays, via the AR device, the overlayover the keyboard of the legacy device. The AR application 120 candisplay the overlay 126 to substantially line up with the legacykeyboard 104, in the operator's user view, via the AR display 122. Theoverlay 126 substantially lines up when the key indicators 118 and 119visually overlap, in the user view, the physical keys 110 and 112 of thelegacy keyboard 104, respectively. The key indicators 118 and 119 can bedisplayed in the keystroke sequence order, so the transaction isaccurately prompted, to the operator, for selection via the legacykeyboard 104.

At 220, the AR application monitors entered keystrokes and generates newoverlays based on errors. For example, once the AR application 120detects a user selection of the physical key 110, the AR application cancease displaying the key indicator 118 over the physical key 110, andinstead display the key indicator 119 over the physical key 112. If thekey indicator 119 (and thus the physical key 112) is not selected by theuser, and another physical key is instead selected, then the ARapplication 120 can determine that an error occurred.

The AR application 120 can determine a sequence of user keystrokes thatare entered by the operator. The AR application 120 can compare thesequence of user keystrokes to the keystroke sequence. The ARapplication 120 can determine, based on the sequence comparison, anerror in the sequence of user keystrokes. The AR application 120 candetermine, based on the error and the keystroke sequence, a newkeystroke sequence. The AR application 120 can then generate a newoverlay indicating the new keystroke sequence.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of customer commands, and examplecorresponding command sequence and keystroke sequence, as used by the ARapplication of FIGS. 1 and/or 2. Element 302 illustrates an example ofvoice data (corresponding to audio data) that can be accessed by the ARapplication 120. The AR application 120 can (locally and/or bycommunicating with the server 130) perform voice analysis on the voicedata 302 to determine customer commands 304-312. The AR application 120can (locally and/or by communicating with the server 130) determine acommand sequence 320 based on the on the customer commands 304-312. TheAR application 120 can (locally and/or by communicating with the server130) determine a keystroke sequence 330 based on the on the commandsequence 320. The AR application 120 can (locally and/or bycommunicating with the server 130) determine a shortcut keystroke subset350 of the keystroke sequence 330. The shortcut keystroke subset 350 canbe used for generation of the shortcut key.

The AR application 120 can analyze the customer commands 304-312 anddetermine that the customer command 304 indicates customer intent, butis not translatable into an element of the command sequence 320. Basedon the customer command analysis, the AR application 120 can determinethat the customer commands 306-310 translate into respective elements322-326 of the command sequence 320 associated with a portion of thetransaction (e.g., the actual order for the customer). Based on thecustomer command analysis, the AR application 120 can determine that thecustomer command 312 translates into element 328 of the command sequence320 that indicates a type of the transaction (e.g., that the transactionis a to-go order).

The AR application 120 can then analyze the elements 322-328 of thecommand sequence 320 and determine the keystroke sequence 330. Thiskeystroke sequence determination can be based on the transaction rulesand type of the legacy device, as each legacy device can have adifferent keystroke sequence and/or a different legacy keyboard. Thetransaction rules can be different for different merchant locations evenif the same legacy device is used. For example, the legacy device at amerchant A may have a different set of transaction rules from the samelegacy device at a merchant B. Based on the command sequence analysis,the AR application 120 can determine that element 322 of the commandsequence 320 maps to keystrokes 334-336. Similarly, the AR application120 can determine that elements 324, 326, and 328 of the commandsequence 320 maps to keystrokes 338-340, 342, and 344, respectively. TheAR application can determine, based on the legacy device type and/or thetransaction rules, that keystrokes 332 and 346 are necessary to initiateand terminate entering of the transaction, respectively.

The AR application 120 can also generate a shortcut key based on a atleast a portion of the command sequence 320. The AR application 120 candetermine the shortcut command subset 350 that corresponds to thekeystrokes 334-344 (for the command sequence 322-328), but would stillrequire the operator to use keystrokes 332 and 346 for initiating andterminating entering of the transaction.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating embodiments of a display shownby an AR device for accessing legacy transaction terminals. FIG. 4Aillustrates the AR display 122 as seen by the operator 402 via the ARdevice 114. The user can see a user view 306 via the AR display 122. Theuser can see the overlay 126, displayed via the AR display 122, thatoverlaps with the legacy keyboard 104. The overlay 126 can include keyindicators 118, 119, 416, and 418. Each of the key indicators 118, 119,416, and 418 can map to a separate physical key on the legacy keyboard104. The AR application 120 can display one key indicator at a time forthe key indicators 118, 119, 416, and 418, in order as indicated by thekeystroke sequence 330.

The AR display 122 can also display a shortcut key 420. The ARapplication 120 can associate user selection of the shortcut key withthe commands of the shortcut command subset 350. In FIG. 4A, the ARapplication 120 displays the shortcut key 420 outside of the overlay126, and thus the shortcut key is not mapped to any keys of the legacykeyboard 104.

FIG. 4B illustrates how the overlay 126 is displayed with relation tothe legacy keyboard 104. The overlay 126 can include key indicators 118,119, 416, and 418, that map to physical keys 110, 112, 412, and 414,respectively. The AR application 120 can display, via the overlay 126,the key indicators in the order indicated by the keystroke sequence 330,i.e., in the keystroke sequence order. For example, the AR application120 can only display the first key indicator 118 of the keystrokesequence 330, while the remaining key indicators 119, 416, 418, and 420are not made visible on the overlay 126. Once the AR application 120detects the user selection of the physical key 110 that is mapped to bythe key indicator 119, the AR application 120 can display the second keyindicator 119 of the keystroke sequence 330, while not displaying thefirst key indicator 118 or the remaining key indicators 416 and 418. TheAR application 120 can display each key indicator by only displaying thenext key indicator as indicated by the keystroke sequence order, byvisually highlighting the next key indicator, and/or by visually dimmingthe remaining (i.e., not the next key indicator), among othertechniques.

In some embodiments, the AR application 120 can also display a virtualdisplay 415 with one or more elements. The virtual display 415 can mapto the legacy display 106, or can map to another area of the AR display122. The virtual display 415 can display additional information aboutthe transaction and/or the customer. The virtual display 415 can displayportions of the customer commands 304-312, the command sequence 320,and/or the current and/or the next keystroke of the keystroke sequence330. The virtual display 415 can display prompts for the operator toclarify any ambiguous customer commands.

The AR application 120 can detect the user selection 108, which canindicate a selection, by the user 402, of one of the physical keys 110,112, 412, and 414. The AR device 114 can detect the user selection 108of the physical key via a variety of methods, including by trackinguser's 402 gestures, detecting hand motion of the user 402, and/orreceiving signals from a pointing device held by the user 402. The ARapplication 120 can determine whether the detected keypress is for thesame physical key as indicated by the overlay 126 (i.e., for a next stepof the keystroke sequence). If the AR application 120 determines thatthe user selection 108 is for a different physical key, the ARapplication 120 may determine that an error occurred, and can determinea new keystroke sequence and/or a new overlay to complete thetransaction.

The shortcut key 420 can be displayed inside of the overlay 126, and canbe mapped to another physical key of the legacy keyboard 104. The ARapplication 120 can map the shortcut key 420 to the command subset 350that maps to the keystrokes 334-344 (for the command sequence 322-328).For example, the keystroke 332 can be mapped to the physical key 110(which is indicated by the key indicator 118). If the AR application 120does not use the shortcut key, the AR application 120 can select thenext key indicator to display from the keystroke sequence order. If theAR application 120 uses the shortcut key 420, the AR application 120 candisplay the shortcut key 420 once the AR application 120 detects theuser selection of the physical key 110 as mapped by the key indicator119. Upon detection of the user selection of the shortcut key 420, theAR application 120 can communicate the portion of the command sequence(and/or the corresponding keystrokes) over the legacy communication linkto the legacy device 102. The AR application 120 then can display thenext key indicator 418 (as indicated by the keystroke sequence order).

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating operations for using AR forsecure transactions, according to some embodiments. As shown by FIG. 5,the AR application 120 communicates with the server 130. The ARapplication 120 can also communicate with the legacy device 102. Thecommunications of FIG. 5 can be performed over one or more communicationnetworks. Portions of the timing diagram of FIG. 5 correspond to theflow diagram of FIG. 2.

At 502, the AR application 120 acquires, via the AR device, an image ofa keyboard of the legacy device. At 504, the AR application 120 accessescustomer commands for initiating a transaction using the legacy device.At 506, the AR application 120 can determine whether the training modeis being used. At 508, if the AR application 120 determines that thetraining mode is not being used, the AR application 120 can communicatewith the server 130, where the communication can include the customercommands and/or the image. At 510, the server 130 can determine thecommand sequence based on the customer commands, the image, and/orassociated transaction rules. At 510, the server 130 can determine atype of the legacy device based on the image. At 512, the server 130 cancommunicate the command sequence and/or the type of the legacy device,including a layout of the legacy keyboard, to the AR application 120.

At 514, the AR application 120 can determine the command sequence basedon the communication received from the server 130. At 516, the ARapplication 120 can determine whether to generate a shortcut key, andgenerate the shortcut key accordingly. At 518, the AR application 120generates the overlay and displays the overlay over the legacy keyboard.At 520, the legacy device 102 can receive a user selection for aphysical key. At 522, the AR application 120 can determine whether thephysical key selected by the operator matches the currently displayedkey indicator of the keystroke sequence order. At 524, if the ARapplication 120 determines that the user selects the shortcut key, theAR application 120 can communicate the subset of the command sequence tothe legacy device. At 526, the legacy device 102 can implement thesubset of the command sequence. At 528, the legacy device 102 cancommunicate (e.g., via the legacy communication link) result of thesubset of the command sequence to the AR application 120.

It should be understood that FIGS. 1-5 and the operations describedherein are examples meant to aid in understanding embodiments and shouldnot be used to limit embodiments or limit scope of the claims.Embodiments may perform additional operations, fewer operations,operations in a different order, operations in parallel, and someoperations differently. For example, one or more elements, steps, orprocesses described with reference to the diagrams of FIGS. 1-5 may beomitted, described in a different sequence, or combined as desired orappropriate.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be embodied as a system, method, or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take theform of an entirely hardware embodiment, a software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “module” or “system.” Furthermore,aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computerprogram product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s)having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an opticalstorage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readablestorage medium may be any tangible and/or non-transitory medium that cancontain, or store a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Computer programcode embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The computer program code may execute (e.g., ascompiled into computer program instructions) entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to flowdiagram illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowdiagram illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocksin the flow diagram illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the computerprogram instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flow diagrams and/orblock diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flow diagram and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flow diagrams and/orblock diagram block or blocks.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronicdevice 600 including a communication interface 608 for networkcommunications. The electronic device can embody functionality toimplement embodiments described in FIGS. 1-5 above. In someimplementations, the electronic device 600 may be a laptop computer, atablet computer, a mobile phone, a powerline communication device, asmart appliance (PDA), a server, and/or one or more another electronicsystems. For example, a user device may be implemented using a mobiledevice, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer. For example, apayment system may be implemented using one or more servers. Theelectronic device 600 can include a processor unit 602 (possiblyincluding multiple processors, multiple cores, multiple nodes, and/orimplementing multi-threading, etc.). The electronic device 600 can alsoinclude a memory unit 606. The memory unit 606 may be system memory(e.g., one or more of cache, SRAM, DRAM, zero capacitor RAM, TwinTransistor RAM, eDRAM, EDO RAM, DDR RAM, EEPROM, NRAM, RRAM, SONOS,PRAM, etc.) or any one or more of the above already described possiblerealizations of machine-readable media. The electronic device 600 canalso include the bus 610 (e.g., PCI, ISA, PCI-Express, HyperTransport®,InfiniBand®, NuBus, AHB, AXI, etc.), and network interfaces 604 caninclude wire-based interfaces (e.g., an Ethernet interface, a powerlinecommunication interface, etc.). The communication interface 608 caninclude at least one of a wireless network interface (e.g., a WLANinterface, a Bluetooth interface, a WiMAX interface, a ZigBee interface,a Wireless USB interface, etc.), In some implementations, the electronicdevice 600 may support multiple network interfaces—each of which isconfigured to couple the electronic device 600 to a differentcommunication network.

The memory unit 606 can embody functionality to implement embodimentsdescribed in FIGS. 1-5 above. In one embodiment, the memory unit 606 caninclude one or more of functionalities that implements using an ARdevice for accessing legacy transaction terminals. Any one of thesefunctionalities may be partially (or entirely) implemented in hardwareand/or on the processor unit 602. For example, some functionality may beimplemented with an application specific integrated circuit, in logicimplemented in the processor unit 602, in a co-processor on a peripheraldevice or card, etc. Further, realizations may include fewer oradditional components not illustrated in FIG. 6 (e.g., video cards,audio cards, additional network interfaces, peripheral devices, etc.).The processor unit 602, the memory unit 606, the network interface 604and the communication interface 608 are coupled to the bus 610. Althoughillustrated as being coupled to the bus 610, the memory unit 606 may becoupled to the processor unit 602.

While the embodiments are described with reference to variousimplementations and exploitations, it will be understood that theseembodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the presentdisclosure is not limited to them. In general, techniques for using anAR device for accessing legacy transaction terminals as described hereinmay be implemented with facilities consistent with any hardware systemor hardware systems. Many variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements are possible.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations orstructures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundariesbetween various components, operations and data stores are somewhatarbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context ofspecific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionalityare envisioned and may fall within the scope of the present disclosure.In general, structures and functionality presented as separatecomponents in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as acombined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionalitypresented as a single component may be implemented as separatecomponents. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for facilitating access to transactiondevices via augmented reality devices, the method comprising:determining, based on accessing at least one customer command, a userintent to initiate a transaction using a transaction device; determininga command sequence based, at least in part, on the at least one customercommand, the command sequence for input using an input device of thetransaction device to initiate the transaction; determining to generatean overlay that maps virtual input elements displayed by an augmentedreality (AR) device to input elements of the input device; generatingthe overlay for displaying the virtual input elements, using the ARdevice, corresponding to the command sequence over the input device; anddisplaying, via the AR device, the overlay by visually projecting theoverlay over the input device of the transaction device to visuallyindicate, using the virtual input elements, respective elements of thecommand sequence on corresponding input elements of the input device. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the command sequencecomprises: accessing, via the AR device, an image of the input device ofthe transaction device; determining a command list for the transactiondevice based, at least in part, on an image analysis of the transactiondevice to determine a device type; and generating, based on the devicetype and on the at least one customer command, the command sequence. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the overlay comprises:determining, based on a device type of the transaction device, a layoutof the input device of the transaction device, wherein the generatingthe overlay is based on the layout of the input device such thatelements of the command sequence are to visually indicate a next step ofthe command sequence based on a detected user activation of an elementof the input device that corresponds to a current step of the commandsequence.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the commandsequence comprises: determining whether steps of the at least onecustomer command are in order that is acceptable by the transactiondevice; and in response to determination that the steps are not in orderacceptable by the transaction device, re-organizing the steps of the atleast one customer command, wherein the command sequence corresponds tothe at least one customer command in a re-organized order.
 5. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: acquiring, via the AR device, a set ofimages corresponding to a training set of keystrokes for the transactionusing the transaction device; correlating the training set of keystrokesto the at least one customer command to generate a set of commandsequences; and using the set of command sequences and the transaction,generating a set of transaction rules for the transaction device,wherein said determining the command sequence is determined using theset of transaction rules.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:acquiring, via the AR device, a sequence of user keystrokes performed bya user of the AR device; comparing the sequence of user keystrokes tothe command sequence; determining, based on the sequence comparison, anerror in the sequence of user keystrokes; and indicating to the user,visually via the AR device, the error in the sequence.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: acquiring, via the AR device, an image of acustomer that provides the at least one customer command for thetransaction; and accessing customer preferences for the customer,wherein the customer preferences modify at least one of the at least onecustomer command, wherein said determining the command sequence isfurther based on the customer preferences.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining an operator of the AR device; andaccessing operator preferences for the operator, wherein the operatorpreferences modify at least one element of the overlay; wherein saidgenerating the overlay comprises modifying at the at least one elementof the overlay based on the operator preferences.
 9. The method of claim1, further comprising: generating a shortcut sequence corresponding to acertain command sequence, wherein said generating the overlay comprisesgenerating a shortcut key, wherein said displaying the overlay comprisesfurther displaying the shortcut key on or in vicinity of the inputdevice; and responsive to a detection of a user selection of theshortcut key, communicating certain instructions corresponding to thecertain command sequence to the transaction device via a communicationlink, the certain instructions for causing the transaction device toperform the certain command sequence.
 10. A system comprising: anon-transitory memory storing instructions; and a processor configuredto execute the instructions to cause the system to: determine, based ona communication indicating at least one customer command, a user intentto initiate a transaction using a transaction device, the communicationreceived from an augmented reality (AR) device; determine a commandsequence based, at least in part, on the at least one customer command,the command sequence for input using an input device of the transactiondevice to initiate the transaction; generate an overlay that maps to theinput device, the overlay for displaying, by the AR device, elements ofthe command sequence over the input device; and communicate, to the ARdevice, the overlay for displaying by the AR device by visuallyprojecting the overlay over the input device of the transaction deviceto visually indicate each of the elements of the command sequence on acorresponding element of the input device.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein said determining the command sequence comprises: receiving, fromthe AR device, an image of the input device of the transaction device;determining a command list for the transaction device based, at least inpart, on an image analysis of the transaction device to determine adevice type; generating, based on the device type and on the at leastone customer command, the command sequence; and communicating thecommand sequence to the AR device.
 12. The system of claim 10, whereinsaid generating the overlay comprises: determining, based on a devicetype of the transaction device, a layout of the input device of thetransaction device, wherein the generating the overlay is based on thelayout of the input device such that elements of the command sequenceare to visually indicate a next step of the command sequence based on adetected user activation of an element of the input device thatcorresponds to a current step of the command sequence.
 13. The system ofclaim 10, wherein executing the instructions further causes the systemto: receive, from the AR device, a sequence of user keystrokes performedby a user of the AR device; compare the sequence of user keystrokes tothe command sequence; determine, based on the sequence comparison, anerror in the sequence of user keystrokes; and provide, to the AR device,the error in the sequence.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein executingthe instructions further causes the system to: receive, from the ARdevice, an image of a customer that provides the at least one customercommand for the transaction; and access customer preferences for thecustomer, wherein the customer preferences modify at least one of the atleast one customer command, wherein said determining the commandsequence is further based on the customer preferences.
 15. The system ofclaim 10, wherein executing the instructions further causes the systemto: determine an operator of the AR device; and access operatorpreferences for the operator, wherein the operator preferences modify atleast one element of the overlay; wherein said generating the overlaycomprises modifying at the at least one element of the overlay based onthe operator preferences.
 16. A non-transitory machine-readable mediumhaving instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable to causeperformance of operations comprising: determining, based on recognizingat least one customer command of a user of an augmented reality (AR)device, a user intent to initiate a transaction using a transactiondevice; determining a command sequence based, at least in part, on theat least one customer command, the command sequence for input using aninput device of the transaction device to initiate the transaction;generating an overlay that maps to the input device, the overlay fordisplaying, using the AR device, elements of the command sequence overthe input device; and visually projecting, via the AR device, theoverlay over the input device of the transaction device to visuallyindicate each of the elements of the command sequence on a correspondingelement of the input device.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 16, wherein said determining the command sequencecomprises: accessing, via the AR device, an image of the input device ofthe transaction device; determining a command list for the transactiondevice based, at least in part, on an image analysis of the transactiondevice to determine a device type of the transaction device; andgenerating, based on the device type and on the at least one customercommand, the command sequence.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 16, wherein said generating the overlay comprises:determining, based on a device type of the transaction device, a layoutof the input device of the transaction device, wherein the generatingthe overlay is based on the layout of the input device such thatelements of the command sequence are to visually indicate a next step ofthe command sequence based on a detected user activation of an elementof the input device that corresponds to a current step of the commandsequence.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16,wherein the operations further comprise: acquiring, via the AR device, aset of images corresponding to a training set of keystrokes for thetransaction using the transaction device; correlating the training setof keystrokes to the at least one customer command to generate a set ofcommand sequences; and using the set of command sequences and thetransaction, generating a set of transaction rules for the transactiondevice, wherein said determining the command sequence is determinedusing the set of transaction rules.
 20. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations furthercomprise: determining an operator of the AR device; and accessingoperator preferences for the operator, wherein the operator preferencesmodify at least one element of the overlay; wherein said generating theoverlay comprises modifying the at least one element of the overlaybased on the operator preferences.